Twenty-two years ago, state Route 56, the unfinished east-west freeway that would link Interstates 5 and 15, was renamed after Ted Williams, San Diego’s native son and widely considered baseball’s greatest hitter.

According to Don Freeman, the inspiration to name a road for The Splendid Splinter came from the late Dick Growald, another San Diego Union writer, but the megaphone was Freeman’s well-read column and the decisive political muscle was brought to bear by Councilman Ron Roberts. (Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer was alone in opposition. She preferred to honor a thinker, an artist, or Pete Wilson, anyone but a baseball player.)

Williams, who was living in Florida, flew in for the 1992 All-Star game and lapped up the tribute from his old hometown.